Before we came to RVA and we heard that we would be expected to hire a house worker and a yard worker we were shocked! But having come here and seeing how the Africans who live in this area love RVA because it provides work for them, we have a clearer understanding. They feel that they are ministering by allowing us to have more time to do the jobs we came to do.
We have hired Gladys and Ben to each work two days a week. They also work for the Holts who share our duplex for two days.
Ben keeps our fire wood and kindling chopped and by the door (we have a fire mornings and evenings to take off the chill), runs errands to get things for us, is slowly redoing the gardens, and waters the flowers with the water saved from our washing machine. The plan is for him to start a small vegetable garden too. Ben walks an hour down the mountain to get here each day. You might be interested to know that he asked to be paid on the 27th instead of the 31st this month so he wouldn't have to walk home with his pay on the last day of the month. Men are often robbed walking along the road. Women seem to be left alone.
Gladys cleans, goes to the dukas shopping, hangs the wash and irons, and cooks and bakes. This week she made us homemade bread and stew chapatis. We had some of the lentils and rice that she made for the Holts. They do all of this for about $5 a day. That is all we are allowed to pay them. We try to make sure Gladys takes home some of whatever she fixes for us.
We are blessed to have this help. Apparently they feel blessed that we have hired them. It's a win-win situation.
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